Device for the manufacture of plates, sheets, or slabs of various properties from vegetable fibrous pulp



Oct. 5, 1937. BASLER DEVICE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PLATES, SHEETS, ORSLABS OF VARIOUS PROPERTIES FROM VEGETABLE FIBROUS PULP Filed Sept. 29,1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 E! II I rlllll,

.. jwezazir: HERMANN BASLER Attorneys Oct 5, 937- H. BASLER 2,095,118

DEVICE; FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PLATES, SHEETS, OR SLABS OF VARIOUSPROPERTIES FROM VEGETABLE FIBROUS PULP Filed Sept. 29, 1934 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Jiaezaibr:

HERMA N-N BAS LER Attorneys Oct. 5, 1937. H. BASLER 2,0 18 DEVICE FORTHE MANUFACTURE OF PLATES, SHEETS, OR SLABS VARIOUS PROPERTIES FROMVEGETABLE FIBROUS P ept. 29, 19

Filed S 34 3 S ts--Sheet 3 Fly. 8.

o a o o 0 o O 0 o o O o 0 0 Q Q 0 e e O o o o o o o D o o o O o 0 0 0 oo 0 e o 0-0 0 0 o o o e o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 0 Q EJ QIL HEM EUQIXU ECQUU INVENTOR HE /xi g1 BASLER Patented Oct. 5, 1937 UNlTEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE PULP Hermann Basler, Berlin, Germany ApplicationSeptember 29, 1934, Serial No. 746,194 In Austria August 25, 1934 14Claims.

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for the manufacturefrom vegetable fibre pulp of sheets or slabs, particularly adapted forbuilding purposes.

The advantage of the invention resides in the fact that slabs or sheetsof every kind and size, e. g. hard slabs of dense quality resemblingknotted wood, light slabs which are particularly suitable for insulatingpurposes, and porous slabs which are especially adapted forsound-damping purposes, can be manufactured in the same apparatus. Owingto the fact that very extensive removal of liquid is efiected in thefirst stages of the manufacturing process, the latter is also renderedvery economical, because high drying costs are spared. Furtheradvantages of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription, which is explained with the aid of the accompanyingdrawings.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of apress serving for pre-dehydration and pre-shaping,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same,

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are a side elevation, plan view and a vertical sectionof a trolley carrier serving to transport the moulded sheets or slabs,and

Figs. 6 and 7 are elevations partly in section of the finishing press inthe open and closed conditions respectively.

Figs. 8 and 9 are plan views of parts of the finishing press showing thedifferential grouping of the grooves for the removal of the water fromthe slab and the heating coils.

The pre-dehydrating and pre-pressing device I, briefly referred to asthe pre-shaping box, consists of a frame 3 composed of four walls.Inside .this frame a perforated base is provided which consists of twosuperimposed perforated plates or perforated sheets 4 and 5. The plate 4is fixed immovably in the frame, whilst the lower plate 5 ishorizontally displaceable towards the left relatively to the upperplate, for which purpose a slot or groove 1 is provided in the framewall. A toothed wheel 1a, which engages with a correspondingly toothedportion of the plate 5 and a hand lever B disposed outside of the frame3 and connected by a shaft 1b with the toothed wheel la, serves todisplace the plate 5. When the lever is rotated in the direction of thearrow s, the perforated plate 4 is displaced towards the left. Theperforated base 4, 5 and accordingly the interior of the pre-shapingbox, can be closed below by this displacement. A third perforated plateIll is disposed loose on the perforated base. The aris in the positionnot displaced towards the left, the perforations of the three plates alllie one above the other as shown in Fig. 1.

Below this perforated base 4, 5 a press ram device 8 is provided, onwhich a carrier frame 9 is disposed, which serves for the verticaldisplacement of the perforated base 4, 5. The interior of the carrierframe 9 is capable of attachment to a vacuumand dehydrating lead 9a inorder to enable the water to be sucked from the pulp introduced into thepre-shaping box 3 from the container 2. Above the pre-shaping box 3 avertically displaceable press cover II is disposed, which on beinglowered closesthe box 3.

'In Figs. 3 to 5 a trolley carrier, adapted to transport the sheet orslab a pre-shaped in the pre-shaping box 3 and disposed on the plate I0,is illustrated. This trolley carrier consists of a frame, constructedfrom the angle iron l3, the sheets I31; and U-iron [2, for thedisplacement of which rollers l4 and handle l5 are provided.

The finishing press (Figs. 6 and 7) consists of a frame l6, onto whichthe plate I0 carrying the shaped sheet or slab is pushed with the aid ofthe trolley carrier. The frame box I6 is vertically displaceable and isguided by the rods IT. The press ram I8 closes the under side of theframe box Hi. This ram carries a table IS. A plate 2|, provided withgrooves or slots 2 la, is disposed on the table with the aid ofadjustable holding down bolts 20. The final thickness of the slab orsheet can be regulated by adjustment of the holding downbolts 20. Theplate is provided with a heating coil 22 which, owing to the fact thatthe coils are disposed closer together in the centre than towards theedges, enable-controlled heating to be effected insofar as the intensityof heat diminishes from the centre towards the edges. The heating coilis connected with a heat conduit 23, whilst the slots or grooves 2| areconnected with a vacuum lead 24. A press cover 25, which is providedwith a press plate 26 constructed similarly to the plate 2|, is disposedabove the frame box IE and is likewise connected to a heat conduit and avacuum conduit. Both the lower and the 45 upper press plates are coveredby perforated plates 21, in which the perforations are disposed closertogether per unit surface in the central portion and wider apart perunit surface towards the periphery. Owing to the practically air-tightclosure of the pressing space formed by the frame 3 and the press ram avacuum is formed on applying suction to which the plate is subjected fora longer time than in the known apparatus, so that as well asdehydration very extensive drying takes place at a lower temperaturethan hitherto. With a view to removing moisture an alternative procedureon pressing, particularly when sizing materials known per se and adaptedto unite the fibrous particles are added, is first to slabs is effectedas follows:

After the lever 6 has been moved'to the left and the base 4, I has beenclosed by displacing the perforated plate 5, the fibrous pulp isintroduced with the aid of the rotatable feed pipe 2a from the container2 into the 'mould or shaping box 3.

After the pulp has been introduced into the mould or pre-shaping box 3the perforations in the base are so adjusted by displacing the lever 6to the right that liquid can fiow through the same. The press cover IIis then lowered until it fits tight on the box 3. The press ram 8 isthen raised, for which purpose a slot 9b is provided in the wall of thebox for the introduction of the lead 9a; the liquid passes through theperforated base downwards into theinterior of the carrier frame 9 and isremoved by the waterdischarge lead 9a which is with advantage connectedwith a vacuum. By the sudden opening of the base, aided by the suctionaction, a vortex effect is produced which causes a portion of thehorizontally floating fibres to take up a sloping or vertical position.At the same time thickening takes place which stabilizes the lie of thef fibres, this condition being fixed by compression.

The principal effect of this procedure is to increase the strength ofthe sheets or slabs.

After a large portion of the liquid of the pulp has been removed in thismanner and the same has been pre-shaped into the form of a sheet or slaba (Fig. 5) the cover II is raised. The trolley carrier I3 is then runover the shaping box 3 in such a way that it takes up a position on thewalls thereof. The two sheets |3a are then displaced to the left andright, respectively, in the direction of the arrow (see Fig. 5) untilsufiicient clearance is left for the upward passage of the perforatedplate l0 carrying the cake or slab a. The press ram 8 is then raised tosuch a height that the perforated plate Ill and the cake or slab ofmaterial a thereon are pushed up into the trolley carrier, the loweredge of the plate I0 being disposed on a level with, or a little abovethe top of the two sheets l3a, after which the latter are displaced tothe right and the left, respectively, the edges of said sheets l3apassing between the plate It and the lower plates 4 and 5 then fixeddown inside-the trolley" carrier and the latter is passed I togetherwith plate It and'the'pre-shaped slab disposed there;

on out of-thepre-sha i The trolley carrier-bearingthe pieh slab I isthen run'o'a 'to -tlie box n of the finishing'press' to '6'). -It iscovered above by a" perforated plate 20. The I9 is then raised until theperforated plate II is disposed thereon and the'trolley carrier I3 isthenremoved. The frame I6 is then raised so that it surrounds andclosesthereon on all sides. The press cover is simultaneously lowered andcovers the interior of the press box It. On further raising the pressram It the pre-shaped slab is then finally compressed between the pressplates 2| and 28 with simultaneous removal of the water by suction andheat, which causes evaporation of the liquid contained in the slab. As aresult of the particular construction of the heating device describedabove and the use of perforations in the plate 21, controlled drying isaccordingly simultaneously combined with the final pressing process,which ensures the sheets or slabs retaining their shape.

On completion of the final pressing process the ram 25 is raised. Thebox It is then lowered, the trolley carrier run onto the same and themoulded slab pushed by theplunger l9 into the interior of the trolleycarrier and there made fast. The trolley carrier together with themoulded slab is then pushed out and the latter subjected to a finishingtreatment.

The described method of dehydrating and heating the moulded slab in thefinal pressing treatment is of particular importance. In the describedprocess of manufacture the four sides of the moulded slab abut againstthe frame I 8. Since the press plates 2| and 26 are heated, the frameheated. The moulded slab accordingly undergoes considerably strongerdrying at the edges than at the central portions, so that its moisturecontent .is non-uniform. Owing to this nonuniform dehydration anddrying, stresses are set up in the moulded slab, which during the finaldrying process give rise to troublesome distortions. In certaincircumstances the moulded slab shows this troublesome property ofbecoming dis- I6 also becomes correspondingly torted immediately onleaving the finishing press.

This invention accordingly makes use of a suitably controlled drying anddehydrating process.

For this purpose the perforations in the perforated plates 2l, whichcover the pressing plates 2| and 26, are so constructed that the numberof perforations perunit surface diminishes or entirely vanishes towardsthe edges, so that greater opportunities are provided for the dischargeof the water from the moulded slab in the centre than at the edges.

The heating device also is so adjusted that more heat is given off atthe centre of the plate than towards the edges.

The variation of the plate or slab for its different purposes as hardslab, porous slab, insulating slab or the like, is effected in the firstplace by If the operation is effected substantially with out pressure,soft porous' pla't'esor slabs are obtai'ned.- If medium pressure,suchas-3 kgms is .employed, plates or-slabs'are obtained, which areadmirably adapted'for heat. and sound insulating purposes and which havean average gravity of 0.32

I-f, on the" other hand, the pressure is increasedto 25 kgms. and more,and-the pressing in the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 6 is combined withdrying at relatively low temperature, hard plates or slabs resemblingknotted wood and having a specific gravity of about 1, are obtained asend products.

Hard plates or slabsare preferably subjected to further subsequentdrying and pressing treatment in a hydraulic press.

The quality of hard plates or slabs can be further improved byimpregnating the plate or slab,

while being worked up in the hydraulic press,

with 25 to 30% of water and again effecting compression in the hydraulicpress at temperatures above 140 C.

What I claim is:

1. A device for the manufacture of plates, sheets or slabs of variousproperties from vegetable fibrous pulp comprising a finishing pressadapted to receive the same from a preshaping mould and consisting of avertically displaceable mould-frame, pressing rams closing the sameabove and below during the treatment of the plate, the pressing ramscarrying pressing plates and perforated plates, on top of the same thenumber of perforations per unit surface being greater towards thecentre.

2. A device for the manufacture of plates, sheets or slabs of variousproperties from vegetable fibrous pulp comprising a finishing pressadapted to receive the same from a preshaping mould and consisting of avertically displaceable mould frame, pressing rams closing the sameabove and below during the treatment of the plate, the pressing ramscarrying pressing plates, the latter being provided with a suction leadand heating channels, which are more closely dls posed towards thecentre than at the edges.

3. In apparatus for the manufacture of sheets, plates and slabs fromvegetable fibrous pulp in cooperative combination a preshaping mouldadapted to interlace the fibres of the pulp and a finishing press, thepreshaping mould comprising a vertically movable frame, a closable basewith three perforated plates, one of the same being horizontallydisplaceable relatively to the other 40 plates, the base-being supportedon pistons, a

vertically movable cover, which closes the frame and a suction pipeconnected to the space underneath the base.

4. In apparatus for the manufacture of sheets, 45 plates and slabs fromvegetable fibrous pulp in cooperative combination a preshaping mouldadapted to interlace the fibres of the pulp and preparing the slabs fora finishing press adapted to receive and finish the same, comprising apair 50 of perforated base plates, means for moving one of said baseplates to bring the perforations therein into or out of register withthe perforations in the other plate, means for depositing pulp in saidbase plates, means for applying pres- 55 sure to said pulp in adirection normal to the surface of said base plates, means for applyingsuction beneath said base platessimultaneously with the application ofpressure, and means for conveying the preshaped slab thus formed to 0said finishing press having means for completing the manufacture of theslabs by applying pressure suction and heat.

5. In apparatus for the manufacture of large sheets or slabs fromvegetable fibrous pulp, in 65 cooperative combination, a preshapingmould capable to interlace the fibres of the pulp and preparing theslabs for a finishing press adapted to receive and finish the samecomprising a pair of perforated base plates, means for moving one 70 ofsaid base plates to bring the perforations therein into or out ofregister with the perforations in the other plate, means for depositingpulp on said base plates means for applying pressure to said pulp in adirection normal to the 75 surface of said base plates, means forapplying suction beneath said base plates simultaneously with theapplication of pressure, and means for conveying the preshaped slab thusformed ,to said finishing press having means for completing themanufacture of the slabs by applying pressure suction and heat.

6. In apparatus for the manufacture of large sheets or slabs fromvegetable fibrous pulp, in cooperative combination a preshaping mouldcapable of interlacing the fibres of the pulp and preparing the slabsfor a finishing press adapted to receive and finish the same comprisinga closeable perforated base upon said mould, means for simultaneouslyapplying pressure and suction to said pulp to preform it into a slab,means for conveying said preformed slab to the finishing press, saidfinishing press being adapted to remove the water from the preshapedslab oom-.

prising a vertically displaceable mould-frame, pressing rams closing thesame above and below during the treatment of the plate, the pressingrams carrying pressing plates and perforatedplates on top of the same,the number of perforations per unit surface being greater towards thecenter. i

7. In apparatus for the manufacture of large sheets or slabs fromvegetable fibrous pulp, in cooperative combination a preshaping mould, apair of perforated base plates upon said mould, means for moving one ofsaid base plates to bring the perforations therein into or out ofregister with the perforations in the other plate, means for depositingpulp on said base plates, means for applying suction beneath said baseplates simultaneously with the application of pressure, means forconveying the preshaped slab thus formed to said finishing press, saidfinishing press being adapted to remove the water from the preshapedslabs and press the same and com "prising a vertically displaceablemould-frame,

pressing rams closing the same above and below during the treatment ofthe plate, the pressing rams carrying pressing plates and perforatedplates on top of the same, the number of perforations per unit surfacebeing greater towards the center.

8. In apparatus for the manufacture of large sheets or slabs fromvegetable fibrous pulp, in cooperative combination a preshaping mouldcapable of interlacing the fibres of the pulp and preparing the slabsfor a finishing press adapted to receive and finish the same, comprisinga closeable perforated base, means for opening said base when the pulpis in position thereon, means for simultaneously applying pressure andsuction to said pulp to preform it into a slab, means for conveying saidpreformed slag to said finishing press, said finishing press beingadapted to remove the water from the preshaped slabs and press the same,and comprising a vertically displaceable mould-frame, pressing ramsclosing the same above and below during the treatment of the plate,thepressing rams carrying pressing plates and perforated plates on topof the same, the number of perforations per unit surface being greatertowards the center, the said pressing plates being provided with asuction lead and heating channels which are more closely disposedtowards the center than at the edges.

9. In an apparatus for the manufacture of large sheets or slabs fromvegetable fibrous pulp, a preshaping mould having means forsimultaneously applying pressure and suction to said pulp to preform itinto a slab, a closeable base consisting of three perforated, superposedplates,

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means to displace one of the plates to bring the perforations thereof inor out of register with the perforations of the other plates, the upperplate serving as a transporting means for the preformed slab to thefinishing press, and means in said finishing press for applying at thesame time pressure, suction and heat to complete the manufactureof theslab.

10. In an apparatus for the manufacture of large sheets or slabs fromvegetable fibrous pulp, a preshaping mould having means forsimultaneously applying pressure and suction to said pulp to preform itinto a slab, a closeable base consisting of three perforated, superposedplates, means to displace one of the plates to bring the perforationsthereof in or out of register with the perforations of the other plates,the upper plate serving as a transporting means for the preformed slabto the finishing press, and means in said finishing press for applyingat the same time pressure, suction and heat to complete the manufactureof the slab, said finishing press comprising a vertically displaceablemould-frame, pressing rams closing the same above and below during thetreatment of the plate, the pressing rams carrying pressing plates andperforated plates on top of the same, the number of perforations perunit surface being greater towards the center.

11. In apparatus for the manufacture of large sheets or slabs fromvegetable fibrous pulp a preshaping mould including perforated baseplates, means for moving one of said base plates, meansfor applyingpressure to said pulp in a direction normal tothe surface of said baseplates, means for applying suction beneath said base platessimultaneously with the application of pressure, means for conveyingpreshaped slab thus formed to a finishing press, comprising a verticallydisplaceable mould-frame, pressing rams closing the same above and belowduring the treatment of the plate, the pressing rams carrying pressingplates and perforated plates on top of the same, the number ofperforations per unit surface being greater towards the center.

12. In an apparatus for the manufacture of large sheets or slabs fromvegetable fibrous pulp, a preshaping mould having means forsimultaneouslylapplying pressure and suctionto said pulp to preform itinto a slab, a closeable base consisting of three perforated, superposedplates, means to displace one of the plates to bring the perforationsthereof in or out of register with the perforations of the other plates,the upper plate serving as a transporting means for the preformed slabto the finishing press, and means in said finishing press for applyingat the same time pressure, suction and heat to complete the manufactureof the slab, said finishing press comprising a vertically displaceablemouldframe, pressing rams closing the same above and below during thetreatment of the plate, the pressing rams carrying pressing plates andperforated plates on top of the same, the number of perforations perunit surface being greater towards the center, the said pressing platesbeing provided with a suction lead and heating channels which are moreclosely disposed toward the center than at the edges.

13. In an apparatus for the manufacture of sheets, plates and slabs fromvegetable fibrous pulp in cooperative combination a preshaping mouldadapted to, interlace the fibres of the pulp with a finishing press, thepreshaping mould comprising a closeable base, means for closing the baseduring the introduction of the pulp into the mould, means for exerting avacuum underneath the base and means for suddenly connecting the spaceabove the base with the vacuum.

14. In an apparatus for the manufacture of sheets, plates and slabs fromvegetable fibrous pulp in cooperative combination a preshaping mouldadapted to'interlace thefibres of the pulp and a finishing press, thepreshaping mould comprising a closeable base, means for closing the baseduring the introduction of the pulp into the mould, means for exerting avacuum underneath the base, means for suddenly connecting the spaceabove the base with the vacuum, means for conveying the said preformedslab to finishing press and means in said finishing press for applyingpressure, suction and heat to complete the manufacture of the slab.

HERMANN BASLER.

